Takeover talk: Where we stand following Staveley’s bid & what to expect next

I am sure like most Newcastle fans, last night was a mixture of excitement and apprehension as news broke of a bid finally emerging from PCP Capital partners. So just where do we stand and what time frames can we expect?

Initial reports

Sky News first reported yesterday evening that a bid of around £300 million had been lodged by the group fronted by Amanda Staveley. Despite talk of four or five groups being interested and in the due diligence phase, it has been apparent (from press reporting anyway) that it is PCP who are the frontrunners. Of course mass excitement followed as it is the news we have all been waiting for – our preferred new owner tabling an offer that made completion before the January transfer window seem very possible.

Sky Sports then covered the story too as it gathered momentum. It is so important to Newcastle fans as finally having a world class manager, we need a new owner to keep him long term and also; provide Rafa with the investment he needs to push the club on. However, in true Newcastle style, counter claims were quick to surface…

The counter claims that soon followed

Those were that, within hours, the bid was not actually £300m – more around £280m. It’s also stated that this would include certain clauses, payment structures AND a request for compensation IF we were to be relegated this season.

This is below Ashley’s asking price and reports emerge this morning that the offer has in fact been rejected. Along with the price, Ashley is believed to be unhappy with the structure of the deal; mainly that instalments are subject to us staying up. Ashely stipulated he would accept staggered payments but clearly does not want them attached the targets – ironic really, as that has how he has insisted on all player bonus terms since arriving at SJP.

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The main concern from fans in all this is the fact that we have been here before when Ashley tried to sell in 2009. Quite rightly, there are plausible worries that he may not sell or ask for too much and scupper the deal. I guess only time will tell but let’s hope he is serious this time.

Why news is good news

On this occasion, I think any news is actually good news. After being burnt before from Ashley, it is easy to feel sceptical about his intentions and these fresh reports. I think the context of the ‘bid’ is important though. This has come after weeks of non-discourse agreements and a due diligence process.

This means a few things – initial pricing discussions, however informal, must have taken place before now. So even if the first bid is rejected, it is usual in negotiation that you don’t go in with your best offer straight away. They can’t be a million miles away, otherwise why go through weeks of talks and looking at NUFC’S accounts?

Secondly, the due diligence must have went well for PCP to put a bid in. This means they are happy with the state of our accounts (Ashley famously bought the club without checking them and didn’t account for vast amounts of player transfer fee debt!) Furthermore, as fans we are all worried about the looming HMRC case hanging over us. PCP will have done their homework and this may suggest, merely by still going ahead with the bid, they are not too concerned about the outcome of the case against us. On the flip side, the case could be a contributing factor to their sub-£300m initial bid. We shall see, but these are all relevant factors.

What can we expect next?

More positive news today has emerged after the twists and turns of last night’s developments. A fresh, higher bid is expected from PCP and this week following Sky Sports’ claim that both parties ‘remain convinced’ that a deal can be struck.

The process of takeover is always non-disclosure agreements, due diligence, bid/agreeing a price, the FA ratifying the change in ownership. With this in mind, it appears we are progressing through these stages at a good rate.

The bid stage is being played through the press, which may be a negotiating tactic from either or both PCP/Ashley. After all, tens of millions are at stake here.

The main thing is that there is news, some form of progression and finally some urgency to get this done before the Christmas deadline.

Let’s hope a deal is struck soon!

(Fancy writing for us? Send any articles/ideas over to us at NUFCblogsubmissions@gmail.com & we’ll get back to you!)

About Simon Riddlesden

Lifelong Newcastle United fan and East Stand season ticket holder. Observations from a supporter who has followed NUFC during Champions League participation and through relegation, taking me from Milan to Scunthorpe.

71 thoughts on “Takeover talk: Where we stand following Staveley’s bid & what to expect next”

The papers will be loving this they can report all sorts of mis-information knowing the fans will flock To buy them for any bits of information so they can put their own spin on it,just suck it and see I say

Wish PCP would just offer him the £380 million but with a clause that the piece of land near Stawberry pub is included in the deal so stadium expansion could take place – a sensible deal for both parties – club and supporters.

What are the chances that the top 6 stranglehold could be broken? It seems that everybody assumes as a given that the current status quo will continue. That is not necessarily the case as we have seen two very recent examples of usurpers (admittedly based upon billionaires) in Chelsea and Citeh. There are plenty of others in history including Keegan’s NUFC and Clough’s teams. They didn’t stay for long but one team did – Liverpool. They were always Merseyside’s second team before Shankley and then Paisley.

So what are our chances? With a good amount of investment, as good as anybody’s. Mainly because Rafa has done it before. He broke up the big 2 in Spain and almost derailed the Ferguson freight train in the PL. Liverpool were probably close to on par with Arsenal during his reign.

Rafa has proven that you do not have to have the sexiest team to prosper.

I am not getting ahead of myself because I have thought about this without necessarily putting NUFC in the mix. The teams in the top 6 have their vulnerabilities although they have the money to fix it. One thing Man U post Fergie showed though is hire the wrong manager and you will suffer, whatever you spend. Moyes and Van Gaal proved this.

Man City: they look invincible at the moment but Pep doesn’t do dynasties. You are not going to get 27 years of domination a la Fergie. Will he really want to stay in dreary Manchester after a Champions League and 2 titles if PSG or Meelan come calling? How about a return to Barca? I have been to all 4 cities and I know where I would live – any of them but Manchester. De Bruyne is brilliant but he could get injured, Silva is 32 etc.

Man U: they have bought a good team but will they win anything that matters to them – PL and CL? Mourinho doesn’t do dynasties. He lasts 3 years.

Chelsea: decent team but I think they finished like 10th 3 years ago. Roman has a twitchy trigger finger when it comes to managers and his new model is a self funding Chelsea so he doesn’t go for the big splash. No Neymar for Chelsea.

Arsenal: tons of money, but seemingly little ambition. The stadium financing hampered them and they have been in the mini-doldrums since they broke ground on it. Their squad is not great and they will lose their 2 best players for a fraction of their worth.

Spurs: a good team who will win nothing because there is a stadium to pay for and in the meantime they will not pay competitive wages. The team will be broken up before it has a chance to do anything as their stars are picked off by the financial giants. A repeat of Arsenal except without the titles.

Liverpool: will continue to be also-rans. I like Klopp but he had his success in a league of 2 and they have an 80,000 seater stadium so Dortmund are not exactly minnows. Have the fan base but do not have the finances to go toe to toe financial behemoths. Their owners are hedge fund Managers and look at it as an investment as well as sport so you will not be seeing world domination again from Liverpool in our lifetimes.

So, I do think it is possible to break into the top 6 with the right owners, manager, investment and above all a bit of luck. Discover or buy a Xabi Alonso, Luca Modric or Ronaldo on the relative cheap and it could work wonders.

Kimtoon and Ice: I was more getting at the point that so many fans, pundits and journalists think that the top 6 is now set in stone where there are very recent events to show it is not. I didn’t even mention Leicester.

There is also a turnover of Managers that will disrupt the teams because Conte, Mourinho and Pep do not stay in one place for long.

It will take a lot of money and luck to break in but it is not impossible.

Ice: what other games do you have. Bloody idiots over here are showing Madrid and Apoel when there are much more competitive games on like Liverpool/Sevilla. I suppose the audience wants to see Madrid whoever they are playing, even if it is a team from Cyprus who they have never heard of and they wouldn’t recognize if the full 11 came up to them in full kit in Walmart.

Eric Sykes:
Ice: what other games do you have. Bloody idiots over here are showing Madrid and Apoel when there are much more competitive games on like Liverpool/Sevilla. I suppose the audience wants to see Madrid whoever they are playing, even if it is a team from Cyprus who they have never heard of and they wouldn’t recognize if the full 11 came up to them in full kit in Walmart.

i have every game being played no matter where no matter who,fancy a game in China as well do you 😆 😆 Bein sport cover everything,cricket,rugby,baseball ect

Sunderland lose again. Weren’t they all having such a laugh and flying banners when we were relegated… I can’t remember what they said about us bouncing straight back up but I am guessing they said it wouldn’t happen.

Pards now favourite for West Brom job. I have said this before but they should appoint him. Some might be surprised to hear me say this and it is not because of any hatred or sadism towards West Brom. He should get a 2 year contract. He always starts well and then fades (badly in the end). He will probably keep them up, which at this point is all that matters.

Olly: Isn’t there a theory that if you have an infinite number of monkeys typing that eventually they would write Hamlet? And there goes Paul Merson. He must get something right eventually, with his infinite sh!te, it cannot all be sh!te, all of the time. Stands to reason, in the infinite universe.

Icedog:
If we win the next couple of games it will strengthen jabba hand plus it would be great for us too,I I only hope if a deal does go through its with no strings

I am thinking maybe we should lose another couple games to make the takeover a little easier and quicker? Apparently Ashley does not want to spend money to strengthen the squad this winter and neither does he want another relegation, so keep losing will only push him to sell the club. Don’t call me evil 😉

funrafa: I am thinking maybe we should lose another couple games to make the takeover a little easier and quicker? Apparently Ashley does not want to spend money to strengthen the squad this winter and neither does he want another relegation, so keep losing will only push him to sell the club. Don’t call me evil

Kim – no offence to Olly or Simon but I’ve dodged this article. I’m trying to avoid take over talk personally. Hope and pray it happens but don’t want to get wrapped up in all the theories and conspiracy theories.
It’s a good offer and at least suggests the club is worth buying. Would have been very worrying if after due diligence they said – nah, we aren’t gonna bother. It’s also an offer where a bit give and take either way and a deal could be found.

Ice – Tosun looks a complete player doesn’t he. He knows his role and his strengths.
If the rumours are true, we have met with Besiktas and agreed a deal for him – but we need money. If this takeover hasn’t happened by the end of Jan, then it will be sell to buy – and I’m not confident we get the money in to be able to land Tosun personally

SHARPY imo Tosun is a snip at 20 mil at today’s market prices,a few rags have said he’s a big Al type of player ( he should wish) he’s two footed and good with his head. what more could you want for 20 mil plus he’s a team player

Craic I read was that his dad who is also his agent/advisor favours Newcastle as he sees his son being well mentored by Rafa and will also get the first team game time.
But there’s me avoiding take over speculation and getting right involved in transfer speculation 🤭😂

Icedog:
Former M/City player Robinho has been jailed for nine yrs for sex offensives,dirty swine,five involved against 23 old woman

I will never understand why they result to this. With all his money he can pay a prostitute or high class escort even . There is no need to force himself on any women, but then it’s not really sex is it, it’s power over someone and he’s an evil little shit.

Everton are so shit!!!
The money they have spent on that squad of players and they are just horrible – getting beat 5-1 at home by Atlanta.
They have got rid of a very decent manager (imo) and have no idea where to go for his replacement – will they get left and possibly relegated with their John Carver – David Unsworth.

Ice – I’m dyslexic & she’s a right clever clogs. It didn’t last long – as well as the fiver she expected me to be nice to her 🤮 sod that!!.
Plus, it didn’t take long for the teachers to cotton on. Well you don’t go from Ds & Cs to Bs and As overnight do you 😂

Sharpy17: Ice – I’m dyslexic & she’s a right clever clogs.It didn’t last long – as well as the fiver she expected me to be nice to her sod that!!.
Plus, it didn’t take long for the teachers to cotton on.Well you don’t go from Ds & Cs to Bs and As overnight do you

was top of the class three yrs in a row,but once you get lovely looking girls knocking about bang goes the school work 😈

Growing up in south London, near where Pardew came from, and attending the same school as John Major, you quickly learn to hate almost all the London clubs. too many gangs and violence. Fulham was almost sensible. But Charlton & Millwall were no-go areas. I have a slight soft spot for the Arsenal, but only because my Godfather was a director. So we went to non-league grounds. I lived in the middle of a triangle surrounded by Wimbledon, Sutton Utd and Tooting & Mitcham. When I went to Wembley in 1963 for the Amature cup final and saw Eddie Renolds score a hat-trick for Wimbledon in a 4-2 win over Sutton that confirmed that they were my club. Not the bastards at MK. Although I did meet their owner and had a sensible friendly chat.

So why Newcastle. First up I suppose they were safe, Support a London club and there were five gangs looking for you. This was the early 60’s and Newcastle was a successful club, alongside the Wolves. Later Supermac confirmed that I’d made the right choice, and let’s face it since then Newcastle has confirmed its status as the best soap opera in football.

So as I’ve said before I’m a newcastle glory hunter, oh well, never mind.

Premandup:
Growing up in south London, near where Pardew came from, and attending the same school as John Major, you quickly learn to hate almost all the London clubs. too many gangs and violence.Fulham was almost sensible. But Charlton & Millwall were no-go areas. I have a slight soft spot for the Arsenal, but only because my Godfather was a director. So we went to non-league grounds. I lived in the middle of a triangle surrounded by Wimbledon, Sutton Utd and Tooting & Mitcham. When I went to Wembley in 1963 for the Amature cup final and saw Eddie Renolds score a hat-trick for Wimbledon in a 4-2 win over Sutton that confirmed that they were my club. Not the bastards at MK. Although I did meet their owner and had a sensible friendly chat.

So why Newcastle. First up I suppose they were safe, Support a London club and there were five gangs looking for you. This was the early60’s and Newcastle was a successful club, alongside the Wolves. Later Supermac confirmed that I’d made the right choice, and let’s face it since then Newcastle has confirmed its status as the best soap opera in football.

So as I’ve said before I’m a newcastle glory hunter, oh well, never mind.